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John H. Dobbs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Hull Dobbs Jr is an American businessman who is the president and founder of Dobbs Equity Partners LLC of Memphis, Tennessee.[1]

Early life

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He is the son of John Hull Dobbs Sr, and grandson of James K. Dobbs, who owned car dealerships and restaurant and airline catering businesses.[2]

Dobbs graduated from the private Memphis University School in 1985.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree from Duke University, and an MBA from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School.[1][3]

Career

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In 1998, the Dobbs Automotive Group was the third-largest car dealer in the US when it sold its 22 dealerships to AutoNation for $200 million in stock.[4]

Philanthropy

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John and Katherine Dobbs are philanthropists known for funding educational initiatives. In 2012, The Children's Museum of Memphis named their campus "The John and Katherine Dobbs Family Center" following a donation from the couple.[5]  Further contributions to exhibits at the museum include the H2Oh! Splash Park.[6] A water park designed to promote problem solving and language development.[7]

Katherine and John also funded the educational farm at Hutchinson school for girls.[8] The farm augments academic studies on topics such as the human impact on animal habitats, and deforestation.[9]

Personal life

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Dobbs has always lived in Memphis, is married to Katherine Stobbs from Atlanta, and as of 2011 they had two children.[2] They have donated to the Hutchison School, and they have two daughters enrolled there.[10]

On January 5, 2021, Dobbs flew some of his friends from Memphis to Washington, DC, on his eight-seat Bombardier Challenger 300 private jet, allegedly in connection with a Stop the Steal rally.[11][12] The passengers were Dobbs, George Zanone III, Carter Campbell Sr., Vince Smith and his wife, Kaki Valerius Smith, brothers Dan and Bob McEwan, and an unidentified man.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "John Hull Dobbs". Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "John Hull Dobbs, Jr. 2011 King of Carnival" (PDF). carnivalmemphis.org. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  3. ^ Mason, Jessica B. "Meet the Chairman's Circle: John Dobbs". memphischamber. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Our History". dobbsequity.com. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Children's Museum honors Dobbs gift". Retrieved 2023-08-30 – via PressReader.
  6. ^ "Next Wave". Memphis Daily News. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
  7. ^ "H2Oh! Splash Park Parental Guide" (PDF). cmom.com.
  8. ^ "Hutchison's farm teaches girls more than farming" (PDF). The West Tennessee News. October 11, 2019. pp. 1–2.
  9. ^ Clark, Shara (2020-08-10). "On the Farm at Hutchison". Memphis Parent - Memphis, TN. Retrieved 2023-09-05.
  10. ^ "Hutchison's farm teaches girls more than farming". memphistransformed. No. October 10, 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  11. ^ a b Abigail, Tracy (March 18, 2021). "A Private Jet of Rich Trumpers Wanted to "Stop the Steal"—But They Don't Want You to Read This". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  12. ^ Poe, Ryan. "Vanity Fair article linking Memphians to Capitol riot creates a stir". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Retrieved 20 March 2021.